The cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and one of the most significant developments in recent months is Coinbase’s full support for Bitcoin Cash (BCH). As of December 19, 2017, users can now send, receive, buy, and sell Bitcoin Cash directly through their Coinbase accounts. This move marks a pivotal shift in the platform’s digital asset strategy and expands access to one of the most debated yet prominent cryptocurrencies in the market.
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Full Integration of Bitcoin Cash on Coinbase and GDAX
With this update, Coinbase has officially integrated Bitcoin Cash across its ecosystem. Not only is BCH now tradable on the main consumer-facing platform, but it's also available on GDAX, Coinbase’s professional-grade exchange designed for institutional traders and high-volume users. This dual rollout signals strong confidence in Bitcoin Cash’s long-term viability and market demand.
Additionally, all eligible Coinbase users received a free allocation of Bitcoin Cash based on their Bitcoin (BTC) holdings at the time of the hard fork on August 1, 2017. This airdrop-style distribution aligns with Coinbase’s stated principle: customers should benefit from network forks. By crediting BCH automatically, the exchange reinforces its commitment to user ownership and decentralization principles.
“Coinbase operates by the principle that our customers should benefit to the greatest extent possible from forks or other network events. This is essential in our mission to make Coinbase the most trusted, safe, and easy-to-use digital currency exchange.” – Coinbase
However, shortly after launch, both Coinbase and GDAX experienced intermittent outages, leading to temporary suspension of Bitcoin Cash trading. These technical hiccups are not uncommon during periods of high volatility and user influx—especially when introducing a new asset with intense market interest.
Market Reaction: Bitcoin Dips, Bitcoin Cash Surges
The announcement triggered immediate reactions across the crypto markets:
- Bitcoin (BTC) dropped as much as 25%, briefly dipping below $14,000 before stabilizing around **$16,600**—still about 10% lower than pre-announcement levels.
- Meanwhile, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) saw a dramatic surge, climbing nearly 50% in value and reaching a trading price of approximately $3,300.
This inverse movement highlights investor sentiment: increased legitimacy for Bitcoin Cash could be perceived as competitive pressure on Bitcoin’s dominance, especially regarding scalability and transaction speed.
What Is Bitcoin Cash?
To understand why this integration matters, it's important to revisit what Bitcoin Cash is and why it exists.
Bitcoin Cash emerged from a hard fork of the original Bitcoin blockchain on August 1, 2017. The split occurred due to fundamental disagreements within the Bitcoin community over how to scale the network. A faction of developers advocated for increasing the block size limit from 1 MB to 8 MB (later adjusted), allowing more transactions per block and reducing fees during peak usage.
When core Bitcoin developers resisted these changes—favoring solutions like SegWit and the Lightning Network—the dissenting group executed the fork, creating Bitcoin Cash as a separate chain with adjusted consensus rules.
Key features of Bitcoin Cash include:
- Larger block sizes (currently up to 32 MB)
- Faster transaction processing
- Lower transaction fees compared to Bitcoin
- On-chain scaling philosophy
While controversial, Bitcoin Cash has maintained a strong presence in the crypto ecosystem and consistently ranks among the top digital assets by market capitalization.
Why Did Coinbase Reverse Its Stance?
Initially, Coinbase announced it would not support Bitcoin Cash following the fork. However, just days later, on August 3, 2017, the company reversed course, stating users would eventually be able to withdraw their BCH by January 1, 2018.
Today’s announcement goes much further—full buy/sell functionality was not guaranteed. The decision reflects evolving evaluation criteria used by Coinbase and GDAX when assessing new digital assets.
According to their official framework, the exchange evaluates potential listings based on:
- Developer activity and community support
- Security audits and protocol stability
- Market demand and trading volume
- Regulatory compliance considerations
- Long-term sustainability
Bitcoin Cash now meets these thresholds in Coinbase’s view—despite ongoing debates within the crypto community about its legitimacy versus Bitcoin Core.
👉 See how leading platforms evaluate which cryptocurrencies to list next.
Looking Ahead: More Cryptocurrencies Coming?
Coinbase has made it clear that Bitcoin Cash is unlikely to be the last addition. The company has published a transparent Digital Asset Framework outlining its process for evaluating future tokens and coins. With over a thousand cryptocurrencies in existence, prioritization requires rigor—and Coinbase aims to balance innovation with safety.
Industry analysts expect Coinbase to roll out support for additional major assets starting in 2018, potentially including Ethereum-based tokens (ERC-20s) and other top-tier blockchains that meet their strict listing criteria.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I buy Bitcoin Cash on Coinbase?
A: Yes. As of December 2017, Coinbase supports full trading functionality for Bitcoin Cash, including buying, selling, sending, and receiving.
Q: Did Coinbase users receive free Bitcoin Cash?
A: Yes. Users who held Bitcoin at the time of the August 1, 2017 hard fork were credited with an equivalent amount of Bitcoin Cash.
Q: Why did Bitcoin’s price drop after the Coinbase announcement?
A: The drop may reflect market concerns over competition between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, especially as major platforms lend credibility to alternative chains.
Q: Is GDAX the same as Coinbase?
A: GDAX (now rebranded as Coinbase Pro) is Coinbase’s advanced trading platform for experienced users and institutions. It offers lower fees and more sophisticated tools.
Q: What caused the Bitcoin Cash hard fork?
A: The fork resulted from disagreements over scaling solutions. Bitcoin Cash increased block size to allow faster, cheaper transactions on-chain.
Q: Will Coinbase add more cryptocurrencies?
A: Yes. The company has a published framework for evaluating new assets and plans to expand its offerings in the coming year.
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Final Thoughts
Coinbase’s decision to fully support Bitcoin Cash represents more than just a new trading pair—it reflects a broader trend toward inclusive access, user empowerment, and platform scalability in the digital asset space. While debates over protocol superiority continue, mainstream exchange support plays a crucial role in determining real-world adoption.
For investors and enthusiasts alike, having trusted platforms like Coinbase facilitate seamless interaction with emerging cryptocurrencies lowers barriers to entry and fosters greater financial innovation.
As the ecosystem matures, expect continued expansion of supported assets—driven by user demand, technological progress, and strategic vision from leaders in the space.